Apparatus for processing photographic materials



Jan. 31, 1967 s. J. KLEM, JR.,

ET AL.

APPARATUS FOR PROCESSING PHOTOGRAPHIC MATERIALS vk R M md 1 mmA W .Tv MLK VKW m .N J 1 YF. Y e E E m LZ N S NN R 2 ma m SH l Y A B Filed Jan. 20, 1964 Jan. 31, 1967 s, J, KLEM, JR ET AL 3,301,158

APPARATUS FOR PROCESSING PHOTOGRAPHIC MATERIALS Filed Jan. 20. 1964 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 .7. 4- l l l l |I l f Il f3 w /4 5'. ,A o l., li /29 Fl G. 3

1NVENTOR STANLEY J. KLEM JR. HEINZ F. NITKA BY M744@ ATTORNEY Patented Jan. 3l, 1967 3,301,158 APPARATUS FOR IRCESSING PHOTOGRAPHIC MATERIALS Stanley J. Klem, Jr., and Heinz F. Nitlra, both of Binglzampton, N.Y., assigner-s to General Aniline d: Film Corporation, New York, NRI., a corporation of Delaware Filed Jan. 20, 1964, Ser. No. 338,727 6 Claims. (Cl. 95-94) The present invention relates to apparatus for processing photographic materials and, particularly, to the handling and processing, including development, of sheet films for radiographic purposes. The invention also relates to an improved method for effecting such processing of photographic sheet materials.

The general object of the present invention is to provide a novel, compact apparatus for rapidly and automatically processing, i.e., developing and fixing, exposed photographic sheet material, particularly radiographs. The operative features of the apparatus include the automatic removal from a holder, such as a cassette, of a film sheet, followed by developing, fixing, and delivery of the processed material.

A particular feature of the invention is that the apparatus is suitable for use in an illuminated environment and hence does not `require a darkroom. It will deliver a developed and fixed, semi-dried radiograph of a quality acceptable for evaluati-on and storage after wash.

Another and more specific object of this invention is to devise an apparatus which will automatically keep continuous control of the film sheet throughout developing and fixing, assuring its proper immersion in appropriate processing solutions for the required time.

Other objects and features will be apparent from the following description of the invention, pointed out in particularity in the appended claims, and taken in connection with the accompanying drawings, in which:

FIG. l is a simplified vertical sectional view of the apparatus, showing the principal component elements and their coactive assembly;

FIG. 2 is a to-p view of the apparatus of FIG. 1, with certain parts omitted, showing, in particular, the roller assemblies, the film guides, and the drive mechanism;

FIG. 3 is a fragmentary perspective view on a larger scale of the intermediate transport mechanism which constitutes an important aspect of the apparatus; and

FIG. 4 is an enlarged fragmentary perspective View in detail of one of the solution trays and the intermediate transport unit.

Referring to FIGS. l and 2, the processing apparatus includes a pair of side frames 12, 12 which serve to support most of the component elements. At the left end, there is shown a housing 1, partly cut away, in which is enclosed a motor driving the sprocket 3 which engages a drive chain 4. The latter passes in turn, in the direction indicated |by the arrows, around drive sprockets mounted on the shafts of various feed rollers. The latter include the infeed rollers 5 and 6, supported in the side frames 12, 12 by their respective shafts 105 and 106. A jack shaft 107 (FIGS. 1 and 2) is mounted below the roller 6 and carries a sprocket 8 which is driven by the drive chain 4. A gear 109 on the shaft 106 meshes with gear 110 secured to the jack shaft 107 which drives the roller 6. At its opposite end, shaft 106 carries a gear 111 which meshes with a simlar gear 112 on drive shaft 105. This arrangement insures positive driving of both feed rollers 5 and 6. An auxiliary guide roller 113 is mounted above roller 5 and in front of roller 6 so as to insure guiding of the film between the main feed rollers which convey the film into the first processing bath.

The film, indicated at 50 at the left of FIG. 1, is introduced into the machine by a special cassette 22 which forms the subject matter of U.S. patent application of D. W. S-ames for Radiographic Film Cassette, Serial No. 340,059, filed January 24, 1964. This cassette, upon insertion into the infeed portion of the processing apparatus, automatically expells a carrier member, thereby placing a marginal portion of the film 50 within reach of a pair of extracting rollers 14 and 15. These are mounted on shafts 114 and 115, respectively, the latter being driven by a sprocket 116 which engages the main drive chain 4. Thus, a film sheet extracted by the above rollers from the cassette 22 is passed `between the front -feed rollers 5 and 6. From here it is guided downwardly and enters the developer solution 20 contained in the tray or tank 16.

Situated within the tray 16 is the film guide member 17, in the form of a grill which includes a plurality of transverse rods 53 and a series of curved rods 118 which extend generally in the direction of the film feed. At either end of the tray 16, that is, in a position to overlie the edges Vof the advancing film sheet, are the inturned upper ends of the rods 53. These ends are secured to the rods 118 and are so arranged as to contact -only the edges of the film sheet. They overlie the film edges so as to insure that the film will ride through the bath and will not curl up and lift out of the developer solution. This construction is shown best in FIG. 4. The ends of the rods 118 are turned down so as to rest on the bottom of the tray 16.

Underneath tray 16 is a heater 18. This may be a fiat flexible electrical heating unit which lies close to the bottom of the tray and conforms to the shape thereof. This type of heater insures quick response and maintains uniform temperature of the solution.

As the film emerges from the bath, under the guidance of the curved rods 118, and the edge guiding rods 53, it is directed into an intermediate transport mechanism which is another important feature of the present invention. This transport mechanism consists of a unit structure which can be easily removed by simply lifting it out of the frame. The unit comprises a large main lower roller 8 which is positioned between a pair of coaxially positioned idler rollers 7 and 9. Around rollers 7 and 9 is stretched a flexible belt 25. Roller 8 is mounted on a transverse shaft which carries a sprocket 129 engaged by the drive chain 4. As best seen in FIG. 3, an idler sprocket 130 is mounted on the side frame 12 to insure it-s driving engagement with the sprocket 129 attached to the shaft 128. The belt 25 engages a portion of the circumference of the roller V8 and is driven by frictional engagement. It is cornposed of an impervious resilient material such as rubber, which may be suitably reinforced. The intermediate transport unit consisting of the belt 25 and rollers 7 and 9, overlies the drive roller 8 for a substantial part of its periphery. This contact area extends at least through an arc of 60, and preferably 90 of the circumference, of roller 8. The result is that the belt 25 envelops the film as it emerges from the tray 16 and seals it from exposure to ambient air. Thereby it reduces the tendency of the film to oxidize due to the presence of developer liquid on the film in t-he oxygen environment of the atmosphere. It also squeezes from the film most of the developer liquid, returning the latter to the developer tray.

A film guide arrangement 7', substantially identical with the unit 17 in tray 16, is provided in the adjacent tray 16'. Also an electrical heater 18 of the fiat, flexible type similar to unit 18 is mounted beneath the tray 16 to raise the temperature thereof.

At the outlet of the fixer tank there Iare provided a pair of outfeed rollers 10 and 11. These are mounted on shafts 154 and 155, respectively, which are journaled in the side frames 12, 12. These shafts are driven in the same general manner as the infeed rollers and 6. The drive chain 4 engages fa sprocket 150 on a jack shaft- 151 which also carries a spur gear 152. The latter meshes with the spur gear 153 ymounted on the shaft 154 which supports the outfeed roller 10. Spur gears 156, 157 are provided on shafts 154 and 155 to insure the positive driving of both outfeed rollers.

Roller 1l is immersed in the xing solution 21 approximately one-eighth of an inch to insure the continual moistening of the outfeed rollers to prevent a build-up of salts Idue to oxidization and evaporation of the liquid.

The processing operation is as follows:

When a cassette 22 is inserted over the platform 22 it engages the bar 23, releasing a mechanism which permits t-he rollers 14 and 15 to engage and guide the lm sheet 50 to the infeed rollers 5 and 6. Both sets of these rollers are resiliently held together in frictional engagement, being spring-loaded to retain appropriate film-driving contact. The film 50 is then guided through the alkaline developer bath 20 by the guide means 17 and then to the intermediate transport unit 7, 8, 9. The tray lm guide 17, appropriately contoured, insures complete and continuous immersion of the lm passing through the bath. The leading edge of the film is guided into the transport system before the trailing edge thereof has left the infeed rollers 5 and `6, thus control of the lm is maintained at all times during its passage through the processing baths.

As the film emerges from the developer solution, it is then sandwiched between the large center transport roller 8 and the belt 25 and is conveyed to the next succeeding solution tray. The belt transport serves also to squeegee olf the excess liquid and return it to the tray land, as pointed out above, prevents oxidation of the film.

In the second bath, t-he lm is similarly guided by the contoured guide member 17. Controlled transport of the lm is again accomplished when the leading edgeof the film is gripped by the spring-loaded outfeed squeegee rollers 10 and 11 before the trailing edge of the film has left the center transport unit. The outfeed rollers 'are held together by springs, similar to the arrangement for rollers 5 and 6, under sufficient pressure to squeegee the film and deliver it to the operator in semi-dry condition and ready for viewing.

The apparatus is provided with an anti-splash overall cover 54. This cover keeps the containers in the proper receptacles and prevents splashing during the processing cycle.

What We claim is:

1. Processing apparatus for photographic sheet film, particularly X-ray film, contained in a cassette comprising, in combination, a plurality of adjacent trays containing processing solutions arranged in sequential order of the processing steps, an infeed portion for said apparta- -tus accommodating a cassette, means operable in response to insertion of said cassette for extracting the film sheet therefrom, tirst transport means for passing said sheet into the rst processing tray, intermediate transport means for passing said sheet from one tray into the next succeeding tray, said intermediate transport means being so constructed as to envelop the lm sheet upon emergence from the first tray and 4during passage thereof into the second tray, and outfeed transport means for passing said. sheet from the last tray into a delivery portion of said. apparatus.

2. Apparatus in accordance with claim 1, wherein said transport means comprise rollers having resilient sur-- faces adapted to compress said lm for the squeegeeing, of residual processing solutions.

3. Apparatus in accordance with claim 1 wherein said intermediate transport means comprise, a driven roller located between adjacent trays, a pair of idler rollers coaxially arranged therewith at each side thereof, an endless resilient impervious belt passing over said idler rollers and engaging a portion of the circumference of said driven roller, said belt and said rollers extending substantially the entire width of the film sheet whereby the latter, being conveyed between coengaging surfaces of said driven roller and said belt and being enveloped by said belt, is sealed from exposure to ambient air.

4. Apparatus in accordance with claim 1, including guide means in said trays comprising a plurality of spaced rods arranged in the direction of travel of said sheet, said rods being curved downwardly intermediate the sides of the tray at which the sheet enters and leaves the tray, said guide means comprising also rods transverse to the movement of said sheet and having ends turned upward and inward for engaging the edge of the sheet during its travel through the tray.

5. Processing apparatus for photographic sheet lm, particularly X-ray film, contained in a cassette comprising, in combination, a plurality of adjacent trays containing processing solutions arranged in sequential order of the processing steps, an infeed portion for said apparatus including a support slidably 'accommodating a cassette, actuating means afxed to said support and operable in response to insertion of said cassette for extracting the film sheet therefrom, transport means for passing said sheet into the first processing tray and subsequently into adjacent trays, and outfeed transport means for passing said sheet from t-he last tray into a delivery portion of said apparatus.

6. Apparatus in accordance with claim 5 wherein said actuating means comprises, a bar affixed to said support and adapted to engage said cassette upon insertion thereof into the infeed portion of the apparatus.

References Cited by the Examiner UNITED STATES PATENTS 2,500,845 3/1950 McCausland 226--196 X 3,033,351 5/1962 Dutch 95-94 FOREIGN PATENTS 1,107,701 8/1955 France.

807,454 6/ 1951 Germany. 1,128,292 4/1962 Germany.

768,621 2/1957 Great Britain. 339,495 8/ 1959 Switzerland.

NORTON ANSHER, Primary Examiner.

CLIFFORD B. PRICE, Assstwn Examiner. 

1. PROCESSING APPARATUS FOR PHOTOGRAPHIC SHEET FILM, PARTICULARLY X-RAY FILM, CONTAINED IN A CASSETTE COMPRISING, IN COMBINATION, A PLURALITY OF ADJACENT TRAYS CONTAINING PROCESSING SOLUTIONS ARRANGED IN SEQUENTIAL ORDER OF THE PROCESSING STEPS, AN INFEED PORTION FOR SAID APPARATUS ACCOMMODATING A CASSETTE, MEANS OPERABLE IN RESPONSE TO INSERTION OF SAID CASSETTE FOR EXTRACTING THE FILM SHEET THEREFROM, FIRST TRANSPORT MEANS FOR PASSING SAID SHEET INTO THE FIRST PROCESSING TRAY, INTERMEDIATE TRANSPORT MEANS FOR PASSING SAID SHEET FROM ONE TRAY INTO THE NEXT SUCCEEDING TRAY, SAID INTERMEDIATE TRANSPORT MEANS BEING SO CONSTRUCTED AS TO ENVELOP THE FILM SHEET UPON EMERGENCE FROM THE FIRST TRAY AND DURING PASSAGE THEREOF INTO THE SECOND TRAY, AND OUTFEED TRANSPORT MEANS FOR PASSING SAID SHEET FROM THE LAST TRAY INTO A DELIVERY PORTION OF SAID APPARATUS. 